Dispensing fitment with anti-splash baffle



Aug. 4, 1964 G. v. MUMFORD 3,143,257

DISPENSING FITMENT WITH ANTI-SPLASH BAFFLE Filed Nov. 14, 1962 INVENTOR. GEORGE v. MUMFORD BY fi y 2441 A o zwzv s United States Patent 3,143,257 DEPENSBNG FITMENT WITH ANTI-SPLASH RAFFLE George Victor Mumford, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 237,531 Claims. (Cl. 222--547) This invention relates generally to a dispensing fitment of the type used for controlling the flow of liquid from bottles or other containers and more particularly to a dispensing fitment designed to minimize fiuid surging and splatter when liquid is poured from the container.

The fitment of the present invention is designed with a baifie having a configuration that not only prevents surging of the fluid when poured from the container, but which also permits the entrance of air to replace the liquid which is being poured out. While the use of bafiles per se to control the flow of liquids from containers is not new, their use has not been wholly satisfactory. Some baflle type fitments, While preventing sudden gushing of liquid from the container upon initial pouring and while permitting entrance of air to replace the liquid being poured from the container, are faced with the problem of being unable to direct the flow of liquid to a desired location without the use of supplemental means such as a spout. A bafile of such type is described in United States Patent No. 1,829,003. Other types of bafiie fitments, while permitting accuracy in directing the flow of liquid from the container to the desired location, do not permit the entrance of air to replace the being poured liquid. When liquid is poured from containers utilizing this type of fitment, the flow of liquid is periodically restricted by entrance of air replacing the being poured liquid. This alternate starting and stopping of flow causes undesirable splattering.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispensing fitment which overcomes the previously noted difiiculties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing fitment which permits accurately controlled pouring of liquid in a continuous stream.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fitment having a cross shaped aperture and a cross shaped bathe aligned with and axially spaced from said aperture to thereby prevent surging of the liquid upon pouring while at the same time permitting air to flow into the container to replace the poured out liquid.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheet of drawings on which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the fitment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the fitment of the present invention.

FTGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view showing the 1 tment of the present invention applied to the neck portion of a container and also showing a closure affixed over the fitment and the container.

in brief, the fitment of the present invention comprises a top panel portion from which a pair of concentric radially spaced apart annular skirts depend. The outer annular skirt is adapted to snap over the neck of a container while the inner skirt is received within the neck of such container. The top panel portion has a cross shaped aperture each diametrical leg of which extends substantially across the diameter of the inner annular skirt. A cross shaped bafile corresponding to the aperture extends "ice across the lower edge of the inner concentric skirt and is aligned with the cross shaped aperture.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown a fitment generally designated 28 comprising a top panel portion 21 having a pair of concentric annular skirts 22 and 23 depending therefrom. The annular skirts 22 and 23 are radially spaced apart with the outer one 22 of the skirts depending from the periphery of the top panel 21. If desired, there may be provided on the outer skirt 22 an internally disposed annular bead 27 adapted to engage a corresponding annular groove on a container on which the fitment is utilized to provide means for securing the fitment to such container. The top panel portion 21 has a cross shaped aperture 26 having diametrical legs 26:; and 261) which substantially span the diameter of the inner concentric skirt 23. Preferably the legs 26a and 26b are at right angles to each other.

There is also provided a cross shaped bafile 25 formed integrally with and extending diametrically across the lower portion of the inner skirt 23. The baffle 25 has legs 25a and 25b which are substantially the same width as the legs of the aperture 26 and are aligned therewith. If desired, the top panel 21 may have an annular rib 24 encircling the cross shaped perforation 26 in the area of the panel between the concentric skirts 22 and 23.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 there is shown a neck portion It) of a glass container. The neck portion 10 is provided with external threads 11 extending upwardly toward the top thereof. Between the upper reach of the threads 11 and the top of the neck 10 there is provided an annular groove 12. The fitment 20 is secured to the neck 10 or" the container by means of the annular head 27 of the fitment being stretched over the top of the neck 19 and engaging the annular groove 12.

Also shown in FIGURE 3 is a closure 30 having a top panel 51 and a depending annular skirt 32. The annular skirt 32 has internally disposed threads 33 which engage the threads 11 of the neck 10. When the closure 30 is screwed upon the neck 10 of the baffle, the under surface of the top panel 31 engages the annular rib 24 of the fitment 29. Inasmuch as the annular rib 24 is positioned between the concentric annular skirts 22 and 23, it will be directly over the top of the neck 10. Tightening of the cap 39 causes the portion of the fitment 2i) underlying the annular rib 24 to become sealingly engaged with the top of the neck 19 to thereby insure against leakage.

it is readily apparent that when the container is tilted to the pouring position and the liquid contained in the container is poured out of the fitment, the liquid will flow from the lowest portion of the cross shaped aperture 26 thereby permitting air to enter through the upper portions of the cross shaped aperture. Such construction thus prevents the alternating gushing and stopping of flow which is prevalent in many types of baifie fitments. Further, the baffie 25 effectively prevents the bothersome surging which normally occurs when liquid is poured from a container.

It is quite apparent that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the fitment of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope which is to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing fitment for a liquid containing bottle comprising a top panel portion, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said top panel portion, and a cylindrical Wall secured to the underside of said top panel portion and spaced inwardly from said skirt, said skirt being provided With means to secure said fitment to said bottle, said top panel portion being provided with two diametrical dispensing slots at right angles to each other and extending through said top panel portion, and a bafile secured to the end of said wall remote from the top panel portion, said bafi le having two legs at right angles to each other and aligned respectively with the dispensing slots.

' 2. The fitment of claim 1 wherein the width of the legs of the battle are substantially the same width as the width of said slots.

3. A dispensing fitment for a liquid containing bottle comprising a top panel portion, a pair of concentric radially spaced apart annular skirts depending downwardly from said top panel portion, the outer of said annular skirts adapted to snugly receive the neck of said bottle therein and having means for securing said fitment to said bottle, the inner of said annular skirts adapted to be received within the neck of the bottle, said top panel portion having a cross-shaped aperture the legs of which substantially span the inner annular skirt, and a cross-shaped baffle, corresponding to and aligned with said aperture, extending transversely of and attached to the lower edge of the inner concentric skirt.

' top panel portion having a cross-shaped aperture, the legs of which substantially span said annular wall, and a crossshaped baifie aligned with said aperture attached to said wall in spaced relationship to said top panel portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,280 Kampfe Feb. 5, 1907 1,411,594 Sweet Apr. 4, 1922 1,829,003 Harps Oct. 27, 1931 2,921,724 Whitney Jan. 19, 1960 

5. A DISPENSING FITMENT FOR A LIQUID CONTAINING BOTTLE COMPRISING A TOP PANEL PORTION, A DEPENDING ATTACHING SKIRT AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TOP PANEL PORTION, AN ANNULAR WALL SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP PANEL PORTION AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID SKIRT, SAID SKIRT BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS TO SECURE SAID FITMENT TO SAID BOTTLE, SAID TOP PANEL PORTION HAVING A CROSS-SHAPED APERTURE, THE LEGS 